A self-media blogger in Hengyang County has been penalized after authorities investigated multiple unauthorized drone flights, including 14 flights exceeding 300 meters in altitude.

The Zhengyang Police Station of the Hengyang County Public Security Bureau recently concluded their investigation into a case involving the illegal operation of an unmanned aircraft and issued an administrative penalty against the self-media blogger surnamed Guo.

According to the investigation, the offender Guo, a self-media blogger, routinely used a drone to capture footage of rural scenery. Since May 2026, Guo operated a light unmanned aircraft for high-altitude flight activities in the Xidu Town area of Hengyang County on multiple occasions without obtaining flight approval. Among these, 29 unauthorized flights occurred above 120 meters, and 14 flights took place above 300 meters, violating regulations governing unmanned aircraft flight management.

In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the Hengyang County Public Security Bureau imposed an administrative penalty on Guo, including the confiscation of the unmanned aircraft involved and a fine of 1,000 yuan.

Drone flights are not a matter of flying at will. Without prior filing and approval, unauthorized high-altitude flight activities are strictly prohibited. The general public and aerial photography enthusiasts must strictly comply with the Interim Regulations on the Management of Unmanned Aircraft Flights, complete flight approval procedures in advance, operate within permitted airspace and altitude limits, and resolutely refrain from unauthorized flights to jointly safeguard public safety and airspace management order in the jurisdiction.